HISTORY OF GARTHAPURI(ANCIENT NAME OF GUNTUR)

The original sanskrit original for our Guntur is Garthapuri which means ‘water ponds’.Ancient history of our Guntur can be traced from Saka kings of 5 BC.The earliest reference to Guntur, a variant of Guntur, comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922-929 CE), the Vengi Chalukyan King. Guntur also appears in another two inscriptions dated 1147 AD and 1158 AD.

Buddhism had its mark on Guntur.The first kalachakra ceremony was done by Buddha itself in Amaravati.Since then Amaravati region around our Guntur is one of the important buddhist centres in India.

Later Satavahanas (2BC-3AD) made Amaravati as their capital city.Trade was flourished in Amaravati during Satavahanas.Guntur was successfully ruled by Ikshvakus,vishnukundis,Ananda Gotrikas,Kota vamsa,Chalukya,Chola and Kakatiyas.Later Reddy kings in 12th century constructed a fort at Kondaveedu and made kondaveedu as their capital.The famous Palnadu battle was also happened in 1180.After the decline of Reddy kings many kings come into power but no stable and powerful ruler ruled this Guntur region.

Guntur became part of Mughal empire in 1687 when Aurangazeb captured Hyderabad province.Later Guntur was brought under East India Company and was brought under Madras Presidency in 1788.

Guntur played a significant role in independence movement.And later in 1953 Guntur was seperated from Madras state and became a part of United Andhra Pradesh.